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Match Report

Posted
Sat 09 Apr 16
at 17:00 PM

TORQUAY UNITED 0 TRANMERE ROVERS 1

TORQUAY United were back in home action for the visit of play-off chasing, Tranmere Rovers.

Player-manager, Kevin Nicholson, went with an unchanged side from our last game for the visit of a Rovers outfit who had lost just three times from their 21 away League games, whilst on the substitutes’ bench there was a welcome return for Luke Young and Andre Wright.

It was Sam Chaney who had the first strike at goal in the second minute as space opened up in front of him, but his effort was easy for Davies to gather.

There was a good tempo to the early action in what is an important game for both clubs at either end of the table.

The visitors were looking purposeful as they forced several early corners but United were able to clear their lines on each occasion.

With 17 minutes on the clock, United had our first serious effort on goal when Nathan Blissett linked up well with Sam Chaney whose powerful strike was just off target.

Then a free-kick from Dan Butler was delivered invitingly to the far post where Angus MacDonald’s header crept agonisingly wide of the mark.

As the half went on, United started to get a foot-hold in the game and pose a few questions of our visitors.

Some good play out wide by Ifeanyi Allen saw him deliver a cross in search of Nathan Blissett which was just too high for him to get a proper connection as the ball went wide of the target.

It was a pretty evenly-matched opening period with United creating the better of what few chances there have been, although Higdon did have the ball in the net in stoppage time at the end of the half, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

It meant that the half ended goalless.

An early free-kick from Danny Racchi saw Davies do well to touch the ball behind after Allen had been fouled by McNulty.

Shortly afterwards Davies was called into action again with another smart save to deny a powerful effort from Blissett.

A first change for United saw Luke Young enter the action to take the place of Racchi.

It was the visitors who took the lead with their first chance of the second half just before the hour-mark when Vaughan’s teasing cross was powerfully headed home by Higdon.

Shaun Harrad came on for Toby Ajala in the wake of the goal as we looked to make an instant response to falling behind.

With our visitors enjoying plenty of possession, a header from Higdon went wide of the mark after a melee between the players saw an edge creep into the game.

A third and final change saw Andre Wright come on for Chaney.

As United started to get back into the game, some positive play from Allen saw him force a corner which flashed across the face of goal and then in the next raid, a delicious ball into the danger zone from Young was headed clear by Harris.

With the clock ticking down, a corner for United, which was won by Wright, saw him plant a firm header just wide as the ball came in from Young.

There was a great chance for United in stoppage time when Allen was brought down by Harris and the resulting free-kick from Young went all the way through and somehow stayed out.

It allowed Rovers to break through Kirby but he was denied by great cover from Allen who tracked back.

That was to be the last action as it ended in a 1-0 defeat in a game in which we deserved to take something from.